ECI Defends Transparency In Response To Rahul Gandhi; LoP Alleges 'Vote Theft' In Maharashtra Polls
The ECI refuted Rahul Gandhi's claims of irregularities in the Maharashtra elections, citing adherence to laws and extensive oversight. They invited him to discuss concerns and noted election petitions were an option.
The Election Commission of India has officially responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations regarding irregularities in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. In a letter emailed on 12 June, the ECI asserted that the electoral process was carried out strictly in accordance with laws enacted by Parliament and existing rules, adding that it involved an extensive decentralised operation at the constituency level.
The ECI noted that more than one lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs), 288 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 288 Returning Officers (ROs), along with 139 General Observers, 41 Police Observers, and 71 Expenditure Observers, were engaged in the conduct of the polls, news agency PTI reported. Political parties also played a role, with over 1.08 lakh booth-level agents participating, including 28,421 representing the Congress party.
Addressing Rahul’s concerns, the Commission said, “We presume that any issue regarding the conduct of elections would have already been raised through election petitions filed in the competent court of law (Bombay High Court) by the INC (Congress) candidates.”
It further added that under legal provisions, an election petition can be submitted within 45 days of result declaration in any given constituency. However, the Commission assured Rahul that he could still write to them if he had further concerns, and also offered to meet him in person. “If you still have any issues, you are welcome to write to us and the Commission is also willing to meet you in person at a mutually convenient date and time to discuss all issues,” the ECI stated.
Rahul Gandhi Demands Digital Voter Rolls, CCTV Footage
Rahul Gandhi, who serves as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, took to X (formerly Twitter) to amplify his allegations, citing what he described as systematic manipulation of voter rolls. “These aren’t isolated glitches. This is vote theft. The cover-up is the confession,” Rahul posted.
Citing a media report, Gandhi pointed to the example of Nagpur South West—the constituency of Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis—where he claimed that 29,219 new voters were added within just five months between the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. “In Maharashtra CM’s own constituency, the voter list grew by 8% in just 5 months. Some booths saw a 20-50% surge. BLOs reported unknown individuals casting votes,” he said.
He further alleged that the media had “uncovered thousands of voters with no verified address,” and demanded immediate release of machine-readable digital voter rolls and CCTV footage from polling stations.
All Parties Received Voter Rolls: Maharashtra CEO
Responding to Gandhi’s demand, the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) in Maharashtra reiterated that electoral rolls were already shared with all recognised political parties, including the Congress, during the second Special Summary Revision-2024. This revision exercise took place ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
In a statement posted on X, the CEO said, “During 2nd Special Summary Revision-2024, which was taken up before the General Elections to Maharashtra Assembly-2024, the copies of draft and final electoral rolls of all 288 ACs were provided to representatives of all recognised political parties including INC (Dates of handing over the rolls to INC can be seen in the attachment).”
Electoral rolls are prepared transparently; copies were shared with recognised parties pic.twitter.com/u6HUCOOdsU
— ChiefElectoralOffice (@CEO_Maharashtra) June 24, 2025
The office added that during the revision process, 19,27,508 claims and objections were received, with only 89 appeals being filed against any deletions or additions in the rolls.
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